Shelley Gray's Blog

I have learned a lot about our little friends that look a shield with legs.  Kind of dinosaur-like.  It seems like they have come from Allentown, PA.  What is it about Allentown that would be a source for these bugs?  Evidently they came off a ship from China that came in to the Port of Newark, NJ and then….. hopped a truck to of all places Allentown on Route 78.  The rest is history.  Yuk.  Do not squish them.  It only attracts thousands more!  Somehow their smell (Which smells like Cilantro) that may or may not come out when they are crushed attracts more of them.  Also it is best not to use pesticides, just  plain soap and water is sufficient to kill them.  Amazing!  Either vacuum them or flip them in to soapy water and then they die very quickly.  More than you wanted to know I am sure!

We now are selling fresh chicken at the

farmstand and it is so hard to explain to

people the difference between chicken raisded

in a beautiful pasture and chicken raised in

the traditional chicken house with light of

day.  One thing that is a dead give away is

the scent.  It smells like fresh air.  Something

like clothes hung outside to dry as opposed

to that “foul” smell that we have become

accustomed to, no pun intended.

Here in NYC for the Drama League Awards, more to come.

Hanging laundry outside is so rewarding. Not only do your clothes smell fabulous but it allows for wonderful bird watching. It is a peaceful and methodical job almost puts you in a meditative state. As I hang each article of clothing I try to think fondly of the owner. All in all not a chore but a pleasant part of the day.

The wonderful advantage of a natural lawn without weed killer and pesticides is the beautiful carpet of wild violets in the Spring.

Trailering our lovely Connemara Pony Primrose to her new home in Texas. I have made it to North Carolina now to stop and visit our friends, Kathy and Walt Corbean. They lived on our street years ago and when I served them three bean salad they loved it so much they started making it themselves. It was then dubbed Corbean Salad. Roger always referred to it as three beans and a root.
Primrose is happily munching hay and looking forward to her new home with no snow!

Alexis added a better picture of lemon meringue pie.

Our eggs make the best meringue! They whip up in to the highest lemon meringue pie! So pretty, lemony.